Device for teaching arithmetic



Sept. 17, 1929.B c. w. WRIGHT DEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC Filed Marchl5, 1926 yof Fig. i, 1

Patented Sept. 17, `19?..9

calm w. WRIGHT, oF ciNcINNATI, omo

nnvron roza 'rEAcHiNG nari-Hmmm pinceau :um Imam, 1926. serial No.94,791.

My invention relates to givinginstruction in mathematics in' a simpleand attractive manner.

Many children find it very difficult toac 5 quire abstract knowledge.For instance in the" v simple exercises in arithmetic there is generallynothing attractive to a child,-nothing to cause that concentration onthe problem that vis required. Mere figures do not interest most youngchildren, but when associated in attractive form with other interestingthings the child learns quickly.

@ne object of my invention is to associate mathematical problems withsome interesting appropriate plctorial matter, so that the pupils mlndswill be alert and eager as when they are playing. In fact, my inventionenables children to play with each other, and thus instruct each other,the device itseliI unerringly giving the' correct answer for eachproblem displayed by it.

Another object of my invention is to a'ord attractive seli instructionwith the usual olanger oerror incident to self instruction, elimmated. g

Another object of my invention is 4to provide a cheap, durable devicethat occupies little space, and one the parts of which will not becomeseparated and lost. The aim oii modern educators is to interest 'theyoung pupil andtherei'ore, get his or her whole hearted cooperationspontaneouslyo My invention is fully in accord with this aim.

The particular embodiment of my inven- \tion, selected for illustrationprovides means for displaying two sets ofarithmetical problems andanswers on each device, one on each side. i

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my inven- 40 tion adapted to teachaddition,

Fig. 2, a detail, is the corresponding elevation of the numeral card forFigi, 4 .F ig. 3, is a cross section on'the line 3-3 Referring now tothe drawings, Fig. l, shows the front of a double faced device with thecard A having a picture on it representying a teacher standing in frontof a black 50 lboa'rd a with a window a1 cut in said card, thru whichwindow appear one at a time, the numbers b on the front side of the cardB.

At the left 'of the window a1L is a column of numbers, with a plus signafter each and 4o posite each such number and plus sign on the rightside-oi' said window is an equals mark and a question mark.

The figures b are arranged inconcentric circles on the cardyB, withtheir lbases toward its `center and so arranged that when the cardl B isplaced in position behind'the card A and rotated in relation thereto onthe pivot a2, that appropriate numberswill appear in the window ai1between each of the numbers at the left of the plus marks and theopposite equals mark.

Towardl the lower left corner of the card A and preferably remote fromthe right edge of the black-board a, is the picture of a slate a3 heldin the teachers right hand, and a window a* is cut through the card A.through which Window appear numbers b1 one 'at a time, each being thesum constituting the correct answer oi' the problem presented bythesort. For instance, Figs. l and 2 show. all v the cards needed toillustrate addition problems; and the number of problems presented willdepend upon the size of the device or the' size of the iigures usedthereon, the length of the window a1 and thenurnber of appropriatenumbers on the card B, being the an- .swers to the problemsvpresented bythe numbers in and contiguous to said Window.

In Fig. 3 is shown. the back member of the samedevioe being a card Shaving a picture on it representiii a group of children playing schoolout yo doors with a blackboard s zon'an easel leaningagainst a fence,with a window s? cut in said card,thru which apf pear one at a time, thenumbers t on the front 'side of the card T.

At the right of the window s1 is a column of subtrahend numbers with aminus sign in front of each and van equals sign and question mark afterit.

The igures t are arranged in concentric circles on the card T, withtheir bases toward its centerv and so arranged that when the card' S andpreferably remote from the right ed e of the blackboard 8, isa window s4cut in t e card S, in which window appears the picture, the appropriatenumber t1 representing the difference between the minuend in the windows1 and the subtrahend on the same line at the right of said window, astho a child was holding in its hand a sheetl of paper with the answerthereon.l

The cards A and S are preferably fastened together at the top and bottomas shown in Fig. 5, the periphery of the disc cards B and T protrudingfrom one or both sides, and the cards B and T are glued or otherwisesecured together, or the figures b and b1 may be printed on one side andfi ures t and t1 on the other side of the same car In Fig. 6 is shownthe front member of another similar device, being a card M'having apicture of a home scene on it representing a chartl m with a window m1cut therein, thru which window ap ears one at a time, the numbers 'n onthe iiont side of the card disc N. In the picture the mother is showndirecting the attention yof one child to the chart,

I while at a distance stands another child with a window m* placed so asto make it appear that the matter appearing behind this win- 'dow isheld in the childs hand.

At the left of the Window m1 is a column of numbers, lmultiplicands,with a multiplication sign after each, and an equals sign on the rightof the window in line with each of said numbers.

As each multiplier n appears in the Window m1, the product number n1appears in the window m4. The chan e of relative position of the cards Mand'N 1s eiected by rotating the card N on the pivot fm2 by pressingwith the finger on the protruding-part n2 of the disc N.

Fig. 8 shows the back member of the de-- vice of which M is the front,and consists of a card D, pierced at the center like the others for thepivot m, and has a picture on it representing an educated horse and itstrainer. A window d1 is cut thru that portion vof the card D whichrepresents a hanging chart d and thru this window may be seen dividendnumbers 'con the card E exposed one at a time. To the right of thiswindow are a column of signs meaning divided by and after each a numbera divisor succeeded by an equals sign and a question mark.

Next to the horses nose is a window d, placed so as to make it appearthat the matter appearing behind this window is held in the horsesmouth; and'in this window appears the number e1 onv the card E which isthe quotient of the particular dividend and its divisor shown in thechart above.

The arrangement of the numbers e and e1 on the card E is similar to thatof the numbers b and b1 on B, t and t1 on T, and n and n1 on N, so thatthe desired problems are shown in and contiguous to the windows (11,81,m1 and d1, and the correct answers to those problems are shown in thewindows a4, s, m* and d4 respectively. The answer windows may be coveredas with the thumb while holding out the device presenting the problem anuncovered for comparison after the child has stated the answer.

By association of problem and picture in this way it is possible to varythe sequence of problems as they occur in the arithmetic tables and thusindependent mental impressions are made which are not interdependent,and which are inculcated on the child mind by constant repetition inplay.

It will be apparent that a great variety of interesting pictures may bedevised for the combined entertainment and mathematical instruction ofchildren; and that many changes may .be made in the form of the devicehere shown without departing from the spirit of my invention. Iconceive, therefore, as within the scope of my invention all formsreadable on the claims.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States:

1. A device for showing complete anyone of a plurality of partiallystated arithmetical problems and at another place the correct answer tothe complete problem shown; said device comprising a card constitutingthe face of the device, a Window in said face card, numbers andarithmetical signs forming parts of a plurality of problems arran ed 1njuxtaposition to said window, anot er window in said face card in whichanswers7 toeach of the said problems appear, another card behind thefirst and rotatable in relation thereto, numbers on said second cardadapted to be seen one at; a time through said problem window so as tocom lete one 4at a time, each said problem, and ot er numstatedarithmetical problems and at another place the correct answer to thecomplete problem shown; said device consisting of the combination of acard constituting the face of the device, a window in said face card,numbers and arithmetical signs forming parts of a plurality of problemsarranged in juxtaposition to said window, another window in said facecard in which answers to each of the said problems appear, another cardbehindI the first and rotatable in rela.- tion thereto, numbers on saidsecond card adapted to 'be seen one at a time through saidy problemwindow so as to complete one at a time, each said problem, and othernumbers on said second card adapted to be seen one at a time throughsaid answer Window, said numbers so arranged on said card that thecorrect answer will appear for each complete problem as it is shown, anda picture on said face card suggesting action helping to solve theproblem stated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set m hand.

y CARR W. WRIGHT.

